Knitting accessory and process



Sept 18, 1962 F. G. BRoscHARD KNITTING ACCESSORY AND PROCESS Filed April 7, 1958 Trinii.

1NVENT0R. f/WK 6T Search/ARD United tates Patent 3,054,277 KNII'I'ING ACCESSQRY AND PROCESS Frank G. Broschard, Hollis, NX. Aberdeen Drive, Huntington, N.Y.) Filed Apr. 7, 1958, Ser. No. 726,742 5 Claims. (Cl. 66-1) The present invention relates to an accessory for guiding knitting yarns and holding them in spaced relationship to prevent tangling and knotting of the yarns during hand knitting operations. More particularly, it relates to a guide which is made of flexible and resilient material containing a series of aligned holes through which knitting yarns are passed, the holes being communicable with a side of the guide. Also within the invention is the process of hand knitting with a multiplicity of yarns while holding the yarns apart in a spaced relationship and maintaining slight tension thereon, thus preventing tangling.

In the knitting of items containing variegated patterns or designs it is necessary to employ a multiplicity of yarns. With simpler designs only two or three yarns are required but where patterns are intricate or a number of diiferent colors is required it is commonplace to find from four to ten or more separate strands in use `at one time. These yarns are wound on small bobbins of conventional design which hang suspended from the work. During the knitting operation movements of the needles are transmitted by the yarn to the bobbins and set them in motion. Other motion of the bobbins is caused by the normal movements of the knitter. Such movements of the great number of bobbined yarns often result in tangling of the yarns and consequent loss of time in untying knots resulting. This tangling is also extremely annoying to the knitter and undoubtedly has caused or contributed to causing the abandonment of variegated knitting by many women. Although the problem of tangling yarns is greatest during actual knitting it is also found that there is considerable tendency for the yarns to snarl and knot when being put away Iand when taken out.

'Ihe present invention prevents the intertwining of knitting yarns and holds the yarns in a desirable orderly relationship. When the invented device is in position on the bobbins the yarns may even be intentionally twisted and still can easily be restored to correct knitting relationship.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided a guide for knitting yarns which comprises a longitudinally extending member having spaced holes larger than the diameter of the knitting yarns employed and passageways for the yarns extending from the holes in direction transverse to the axes of the holes to a side of the guide member. To confine the yarns in the holes and thereby keep the guide in position on` the yarns means for closing the passages are provided at the points of joinder of the holes and passageways.

The advantages of the invention, as well as various other objects thereof,`will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the `accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. l is a perspective view of the knitting of an Argyle sock with the invented knitting guide in position on the yarns;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of a preferred form of yarn guide;

FIG. 3 is a vertical section of the guide of FIG. 2 taken along plane 3 3;

FIG. 4 is a top plan View of a yarn guide of different shape; l

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of another form of yarn guide; and

FIG. 6 is a partial top plan view of a yarn guide, showing in detail flexible gate means for holding the yarn in the guide holes.

Numeral L1 denotes a knitting accessory made from a longitudinally extending, ilat, resilient member 12 which is preferably llexible plastic material such as polyethylene or other lower alkylene addition polymer, plasticized polyvinyl chloride or polyvinylidene chloride or similar suitable plastic. In the preferred embodiment illustrated in FIGS. l-3 the hat plastic member is substantially rectangular in shape. Longitudinal or rectangular member 12 contains a series of spaced holes or foramina 13 having diameters slightly greater than that of the knitting yarns that are employed. From the foramina slit passageways .14 extend in direction transverse to the axes of the holes to a side of the knitting guide. In the embodiment of the guide illustrated in FIGS. 1-3 the passageways are substantially at right angles to 4both the side of the guide and the axis of alignment of the foramina. As shown the foramina are located on the longitudinal axis of the guide member. Such alignment is highly ldesirable but other arrangements of the foramina are also accepta-ble providing that they are spaced sufliciently -far apart. It is preferred that the holes be so located as to ybalance the guide when it is in position on the yarns. Slits 14 terminate in lead notches or directors 15 to facilitate placing yarns 16, depending from knitting 17, in through the slit passageways 14 to foramina 13 where they are held by closure of the slits. The foramina, viewed in cross-section, are curvilinea-rly walled, preferably circular in shape, to obviate snagging thereon of the yarns. If desired, the edges of the holes and the edges of the guide itself may be rounded to prevent any snagging but this is not considered necessary in the majority of cases. Because of the free movement of the yarns lthrough the foramina the guide member rides down the yarn strands and rests on the bobbins 18 on which the yarns are wound.

Longitudiually extending ribs 19 may be provided as` strengthening members to help hold member 12 straight and prevent sagging of the ends thereof.

In FIG. 4 is shown a longitudinal guide member 11 approximately elliptical in the shape of its longitudinal member 12 and containing holes 113', slit passageways 14 and directing notches 15.

FIG. 5 illustrates another embodiment of the invention. Longitudinal member 20 is of the same general rectangular shape as that previously described but it will be noted that `the passageways communicating foramina 21 with side 22 of rectangular member 20 have sides 24, which, while not in contact with each other, are closer together than the `thick-ness of the yarns being employed. These passages terminate in foramina of diameter larger than the thickness of the yarns. Thus,

even though the passageways 23 are of a measurable thick-` ness they still serve to prevent accidental removal of the' If desired, other auxiliary incorporates in a rectangular member 25 holes 264 andV slots 27, both greater in width than the yarns used'. At the points of joinder of the foramina and passageways there are provided opposed beads 28 past which the yarns may be forced, but which will hold the yarns in place in the foramina in the absence of such force.

In operation the resilient guide is liexed by hand so that the slits or slots open to allow entry of the yarns 16. 'Ihe yarns are serially inserted through the `opened slits into the foramina and upon relaxation or withdrawal of the flexing force the yarn-s are held confined in the foramina.

Although the guide member is preferably made of syn-` rials, such as some cardboards, are employed with success. After the bobbins have been unrolled of suicient lengths of the various yarns the light weight guide member is dropped to the bobbin level. In this position it maintains the bobbins in ordered disposition and holds the yarns apart, preventing tangling and knotting. Even if the work or guide is turned the guide will immediately readjust itself to the proper position under the work. When put away in the work basket the knitting yarns will not tangle because the guide will hold them in orderly spaced relationship. `If desired, the yarns and knitting can be wrapped around the longitudinaly extending guide without danger of knotting.

When knitting patterned items, such as Argyle socks or the like, it may be found that some yarns are consumed more rapidly than others. However, usually two or more of the most used yarns will be used in about the same amounts. Because the guide is suported on the bobbins, which will rise as the yarns wound thereon are consumed, the guide will usually be found in the preferred horizontal position. Those yarns used only for making dividing stripes and parts of diamonds will not be used at the same rate as the other yarns. The bobbins on which they are wound will hang lowest from the yarn guide and, if far enough below the guide, it is conceivable that the yarns could knot and tangle with each other. However, usually the lengths of these yarns below the guide will be comparatively short and the number of such yarns will be reduced, so `there will be much less opportunity for tangling than would be the case if the present knitting accessory was not used. t

The present knitting aid possesses many unique advantages which make it clearly superior to ordinary yarn guides. It is inexpensive to manufacture, of clean, functional design, of compact Isize and shape, easy to store in a knitting box or basket, not easily damaged or broken and is light in weight. Moreover, it is easy to use and the prospective knitter of variegated articles requires no Special training or skill to employ it immediately.

The light weight guide and conventional small bobbins hang supported by the knitting. The weight of bobbin and yarn, together with a share of the weight of the guide, holds each yarn in just the right amount of tension, keping the yarn taut but not unduly strained. This avoids the objectionable slacking of the yarns and helps hold them apart from one another. Being light in weight and of low inertia, the guide will not cause the yarns to break if it is dropped or if the work is moved quickly.

Hanging as it does, suspended from the work, the knitting aid automatically maintains itself in proper position relative to the knitting. This is of especial advantage in knitting tubularly. In such case it is not necessary to readjust the guide or bobbins when changing from knitting the front to knitting the back of the work or vice versa. The guide automatically adjusts itself. Because the guide hangs from the work, supported by the bobbins, greater lengths of yarn may be let out when knitting is commenced, allowing a greater duration of continuous knitting before bobbins must again be unwound. If the knitter is sitting the bobbins may be unwound until they almost touch the oor. If standing, it is often found convenient to start with them at about knee high or slightly lower. It is obvious that knitting may be carried out while the knitter is either standing or sitting and may be continued without any readjustment of the yarns or guide when she changes to the other of these positions.

yIt has been pointed out above that the invented knitting aid allows continuous knitting for a comparatively long time before it becomes necessary to unwind additional yarn from the bobbins. Because of the use of conventional bobbins and their readily accessible location under the guide and the mobility of the guide it is an easy matter to lift the guide a short distance away from the bobbin and let out additional yarn.

When knitting must `be stopped temporarily the present knitting accessory furnishes a means about which the knitting, yarns, bobbins and all may be wound without the necessity of winding up the bobbins. The needles are placed side by side and are positioned parallel to the longitudinally extending guide member, preferably between the reinforcing ribs, if they are present. The knitting is then wrapped around the guide. Alternatively the guide itself may be inserted inside a partially completed knitted tube, together with bobbins and yarns,

The invention has been described with pa1ticular references to preferred embodiments thereof as well as permissive alternatives. It will be obvious to one of skill in the art that modifications of the devices shown and discussed may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements of the described apparatus and process without departure from the spirit of the invention or going beyond the purview of the claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A guide for positioning and maintaining a multiplicity of bobbined knitting yarns in spaced relationship under like tension during hand knitting operations to facilitate knitting by guiding them to the point of the knitting, preventing tangling and knotting of the yarns, and allowing the yarns and bobbins to rotate freely and adjust position under the knitting, which comprises an easily portable, light weight, longitudinally extending, at, resiliently exible holding `and tensioning member of synthetic organic polymeric plastic material having a plurality of spaced curvilinearly walled foramina through the thickness thereof and longitudinally disposed in substantial alignment, the foramina having minimum diameters slightly greater than that of the knitting yarns so as to provide sufcient clearances to enable individual yarns to be freely movable through the foramina so that during knitting, the guide, by virtue of its own weight, will maintain itself in position adjacent the higher yarn bobbins, slits extending through the thickness of the guide transversely to the axes of the foramina and communicating them with an exterior side of the guide, said slit having walls in Contact throughout substantially all of their lengths so that when the guide is in unflexed condition the slits will be closed at the foramina causing retention of the yarns therein and holding the guide in position on the yarns, while upon ilexure of the guide the slits open to pass the yarns, and enlarged openings in the guide at the exterior side thereof at the terminations of the slits.

2. In a process of hand-knitting with multiple bobbined yarns and a at longitudinally extending guide member which is light Weight and rcsiliently flexible and of synthetic organic polymeric plastic material, having spaced curvilinearly walled foramina through the thickness thereof and longitudinally disposed in substantial alignment, the foramina having minimum diameters slightly greater than that of the knitting yarns, and slits having walls in contact throughout substantially all of their lengths which extend through the thickness of the guide transversely to the axes of the foramina and communicate them with an exterior side of the guide in spaced relationship, to facilitate knitting and prevent tangling and knotting of the yarns during knitting manipulations, the steps which comprise repeatedly ilexing the guide so as to open the slits consecutively, inserting the yarns in through the individual slits into the communicating foramina as the respective slits are opened, withdrawing the flexural force applied, causing the guide to return to unilexed at position and closing the slits, thereby retaining the yarns in the foramina, dropping the guide to contact with the bobbins on which it is supported to hold the bobbins and yarns so that the yarns between knitting and guide are prevented from tangling, and knitting alternately with various yarns with the guide and bobbins hanging from the yarns free to turn in suspension thereunder as the knitting is turned.

3. A guide member for positioning and maintaining a multiplicity of bobbined knitting yarns in spaced relationship under light tension during hand knitting operations to facilitate knitting by guiding them to the point of knitting, preventing tangling and knotting of the yarns, and allowing the yarns `and bobbins to rotate freely and adjust position under the knitting, which comprises an easily portable, lightweight guiding and tensioning member, having a plurality of spaced holes of diameter greater than that of the knitting yarns, passages through the guiding and tensioning .member and extending in directions transverse to the axes of the holes, to a side of the guide member, said passages having closure means where they join the holes, which closures, in relaxed position of the guide, close the pass-ages and prevent release of the knitting yarns Ifrom the holes through the passages, thereby also causing retention of the guide on the knitting yarns and atop the bobbins on which the yarns are wound.

4. A guide member for positioning and maintaining a multiplicity of bobbined knitting yarns in lspaced relationship under light tension during hand knitting operations to facilitate knitting by guiding them to the point of knitting, preventing tangling and knotting of the yarns, and allowing the yarns and 'bobbins to rotate -freely and adjust position under the knitting, which comprises an easily portable, light weight, flat, resilient, guiding and tensioning mem-ber, having -a plurality of spaced foramina in substantial alignment, the foramina having minimum diameters slightly greater than those of the knitting yarns so -as to provide sufficient clearances to enable individual yarns to be `freely movable through the foramina, yand slits extending through the thickness of the guide transversely to the axes of the foramina and communicating them with 'an exterior side of the guide, said slits, where they communicate with the foramina, when relaxed, being of a width smaller than that of the yarns so that when the guide is in uniiexed state the yarns will be retained in the foramina and the guide will be held in position on the yarns and atop the bobbins on which the yarns are wound, while being removable therefrom upon manually eifected ilexure thereof at the foramina sutlicient to enlarge the slit so as to enable withdrawal of the yarns.

5. In a process of handknitting with a multiplicity of bobbined yarns, Ithe method which comprises holding the knitting yarns and `bobbins on which they are wound in suspension from the knitting so that the yarns and bobbins may rotate in free suspension to relaxed untwisted position, exerting horizontal forces on each of the yarns at points below the knitting and above the bobbins in such directions and quantities as will hold the yarns apart, `and handknitting with the multiplicity of yarns, whereby the yarns and bobbins rotate under the knitting during the knitting and do not tangle or knot during the knitting.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,031,104 Gilpin Feb. 18, 1936 2,313,305 Wahle Mar. 9, 1943 2,493,208 Sedgewick Jan. 3, 1950 2,628,042 Fitts et al. Feb. 10, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 417,136 Great Britain Sept. 28, 1934 862,335 Germany Jan. 8, 1953 

